WE ARE PROCLAIMING THE I AM THAT LIVES IN EACH ONE OF US

GOD IS THE I AM AND THE LIGHT OF THE UNIVERSE (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

“I AM WHO I AM.”  These simple words have been an enigma to man for centuries.  He has reasoned that there must be a great mystical significance in them, and has meditated at length in hope that the enigma might be resolved.  At the risk of oversimplification let us alter the tempo, the emphasis we put on the words.  In doing so, they may well give depth of insight to us.  “I AM WHO I AM.” Perhaps the infinite wisdom of our one transcendent God is saying to us that the “I AM” in you has arrived at some degree of self-awareness.  Could it be that He is saying, ”I Am not something apart; I am that something in you that has perceived of identity”?

The Lord has spoken to us, and He has proclaimed, that He is, the, “I AM!” He said, “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness (Isaiah 42:6a ESV)

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9 ESV)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV)

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25c,d ESV)

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35 ESV).

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. (John 10:11-13 ESV)

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.  (John 10:14 ESV).

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  (John 15:1-4 ESV)

 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

I am the Vine and you are the Branches.  When you learn the truth of who the “I AM,” that lives in you and come into the full and complete knowledge and understanding that, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:4a ESV,”) then you will know the truth of these final words spoken by Jesus when he said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my DISCIPLES. (John 15:7-8 ESV).

We bless this word to you that it may stir up the Holy Spirit that is alive inside of you and seeking the release of its full and unlimited powers that will propel you to any place or heights that you may desire.  The choice is yours, what do you believe?
 

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JESUS SERMON ON THE MOUNT

On this day as you begin to read and study this lesson, pause your thoughts and think on where you are in your life’s journey and know that the reason you are where you are is only by the mercy and grace of God’s favor.  He has touched each one of us in a very special way and given us an opportunity to look within ourselves and understand why we are Blessed and Highly Favored on this day and all the days of our lives.

Now let us begin this study by first understanding the word “BLESSED.”  It is a Greek word that is derived from the root mak, which means “large or “lengthy,” and means “fortunate” or “happy.”  The Greek word was used in Greek literature, in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament,)  and in the New Testament to describe the kind of happiness that comes from receiving divine favor.  The word can be rendered happy.  In the New Testament, it is usually passive; God is the One who is blessing or favoring the person.  God says the Blessed person is a “Happy Person” and He describes that person in this manner, “BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” ( Psalm 1:1-2)

OUR BLESSINGS AND FAVOR ARE IN THE RISING OF THE SUN (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

In the Beatitudes, each one describes how to “Be Blessed.”  They describe how the followers of Christ should live their lives.  To be blessed means more than happiness, it means to be “favored” and “approved” by God.

Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount and it challenged the teaching of the proud and legalistic religious leaders of the day. It called people back to the messages of the Old Testament prophets who, like Jesus, had taught that God wants heartfelt obedience, not mere legalistic observing of laws and rituals.

Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber to be an example of a charismatic religious leader. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The most well-known portion of the Sermon on the Mount is known as the Beatitudes. These are, a series of “blessings,” promised to those who exhibit, the attitude of God’s kingdom. They are called the “Beatitudes.”

In verse three, we note that the Beatitudes describe how Christ’s followers should live. According to worldly standards, the type of people whom Jesus described does not seem to be particularly blessed by God. However, God’s way of living usually contradicts the world.  Jesus explained that “God blessed those who realize their need for him, for the kingdom of heaven is given to them.” Only those who humbly depend on God are admitted into the Kingdom of Heaven. The final consummation of all these rewards, and of the kingdom itself, lies in the future. However, the believers can already share in the kingdom by living out Jesus words.

In verse four it seems a contradiction in terms, Jesus explained that “God blesses those mourn, for they will be comforted,” tied with a Beatitudes in verse three, this means that humility (realization of one’s unworthiness before God) also require sorrow for sins.  Whether Jesus followers mourn for sin or in suffering, God’s promise is sure that they will be comforted. Only God can take away sorrow for sin; only God can forgive and erase it. Only God can give comfort to those who suffer for his sake because they know their reward in the kingdom.

Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!

Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God ^[d]enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!

Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous–possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!

Blessed (enjoying ^[l]enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!

Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous ^[r](in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.

Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. [II Chron. 36:16.]

Finally, Jesus described the way the disciples should respond to persecution; “be happy about it!” “Be very glad!” This refers to deep spiritual joy that is unhindered and unchanged by what happens in this present life. A person with righteous character can rejoice and be glad because of a promise: a great reward awaits you in heaven. The persecution will pale in comparison to the great reward.

Now I pray that this lesson speaks to each one of your hearts and you will fill the love, joy, peace and blessings that surround each one of you in a powerful way and that you will use this opportunity to bless someone else on this special day.  It is truly the first day of the rest of your life.  We love you and appreciate all that each one of you are doing to advance the work in God’s Kingdom.

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THE RESUME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST 

THE RESUME OF JESUS CHRIST (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

THE RESUME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST 

ADDRESS:  Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13

I’m seeking the top management position in your heart.  Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.

QUALIFICATION:

I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)

I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)

I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)

I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)

The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND:

I’ve only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49).

I’ve never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.

My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17)

SKILLS WORK EXPERIENCES:

Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).

I am Wonderful, Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33).

Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).

In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).

My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a lamp unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).

I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26).

I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15).

I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15).

I’ve miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!

There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot – the BIBLE. You don’t need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

REFERENCES:

The great teacher- my father, JEHOVAH (Psalms 83:18)

Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healings, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance

In Summation Now that you’ve read my resume, I’m confident that I’m the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).

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JESUS TURNS HIS DEFEAT AT THE CROSS INTO A GLORIOUS VICTORY

HOW JESUS TURNED HIS DEFEAT AT THE CROSS INTO THE MOST GLORIOUS VICTORY THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN (Luke 23:26-35MSG)

Greetings to all My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as we enter into the final week of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, (which we call Easter), allow me to paint the picture of Jesus’ crucifixion in words and pictures for you. The story is a little longer than we normally present, but because of time constraints I did not want to break it up into two are three parts, just remember, this is not a normal story.

Therefore, I encourage you to listen up and read carefully what I am about to tell you: As they led him off,

Simon of Cyrene the black hands that helped carry the cross (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

they made Simon, a man from Cyrene who happened to be coming in from the countryside, carry the cross behind Jesus. A huge crowd of people followed, along with women weeping and carrying on. At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem don’t cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. The time is coming when they’ll say, ‘Lucky the women who never conceived! Lucky the wombs that never gave birth! And Lucky the breasts that never gave milk!’ Then they’ll start calling to the mountains, ‘Fall down on us!’ calling to the hills, ‘Cover us up!’ If people do these things to a live, green tree, can you imagine what they’ll do with deadwood?”

Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution. When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, and the other on his left.

Jesus prayed while on the cross with the two thieves (Photo by Pastor Davis)

Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.” Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, “He saved others. Let’s see him save himself! The Messiah of GOD—ha! The Chosen—ha!”

At the time of Jesus death, crucifixion was considered the most painful and degrading form of capital punishment in the ROMAN EMPIRE. It was considered so horrible that it was used by the Romans only for slaves, those from the provinces under their control, and the lowest types of criminals. It was not to be used for a ROMAN CITIZEN. This is in accord with the biblical account of CHRIST’S death and with church tradition, which asserts that Peter was also crucified, but Paul, a Roman citizen, was beheaded.

Crucifixion as a means of execution probably grew out of the practice of displaying the heads of captured enemies or criminals on a wooden stake, like those used to build a wall or erect fortifications. Later, entire bodies were impaled. By Jesus time, crucifixion was a common sight.

Although methods of crucifixion seem to have varied throughout the Roman Empire, through biblical and historical accounts the basic pattern is known. The condemned person was first scourged with a flagellum, a whip of leather thongs with bits of metal or bone attached. This whipping greatly weakened the victim, who then had to carry the crossbeam to the place of execution. A sign specifying the crime was often placed around the criminal’s neck or on the cross. The person was stripped naked, laid on the ground with the crossbeam under his shoulders, and tied or nailed to it. Nailing made the victim die quicker, as it did Jesus,

The Agony of being nailed to the cross (Photo by Pastor Davis)

whom the Jewish officials wanted dead before the Sabbath. The crossbeam was lifted and secured to a post so that the person’s feet were hanging just off the ground. Some archaeologists think a pin or wooden block was placed halfway up the post to provide a seat for the body so that the nails would not tear open the wounds, causing the body to fall. The feet also could be nailed or tied to the post.

Although the pain was excruciating, some victims survived on the cross for days. As in the case of the two criminals crucified with Jesus, the legs of a crucified person were sometimes broken to make the sufferer die. This caused massive shock, followed by loss of circulation and heart failure.

Although completely innocent of all sin, Jesus suffered the most horrible, disgraceful punishment known. But His agonizing death was not an ordinary death, for it was not the final chapter. Jesus turned this apparent defeat into the most glorious victory the world has ever known. At the Cross, He suffered for the sins of the world. Then after His resurrection from the dead three days later, Jesus empowered His disciples with a new message, the Good News that He had finally defeated the power of sin and death. Through the Cross, Jesus offers salvation to all who will believe in Him.

The Resurrection of Christ (Kinnaird Resurrection) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now listen to the words Jesus spoke to his disciples, He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things.  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:46-49 KJV)

As this story clearly shows, there is power in the word for those who believe. God never makes a promise that he cannot fulfilled. It is up to you to always stand on God’s promise, believe it and watch God work in your life.

When the light seems to be the dimmest and the enemy is attacking you on all fronts it is time to stand still and watch God work. With God there is nothing that is impossible. God is truth, he is also the light, when you know the truth, not what you perceive is the truth, but what God has spoken of as truth, you can rest assured that you will have peace in your life, and your soul will be free to experience the manifestation of that truth and the light that God has promised. No weapon that the enemy may train its sights on you with, can penetrate the armor that God places around you. You are a child of God, and God will never allow any harm to come to those who keep his word, stand on faith, and not be swayed like the motions of the ocean, always going back and forth.

Now know this, God wants you to experience victory over all aspects of your life. He allowed himself to experience a horrible death on the cross in order that you might enjoy the fruits of life. He defeated sin and death in order that you may have eternal life. What more can anyone ask for, to know that if you believe in the word, except the word as ruler of your life, you can experience the joy and satisfaction of knowing that you can have victory over the world.

Now in closing, let me state that believers today should always look to the cross in understanding GOD’S

The Cross is the Symbol of God’s amazing grace (Photo by Pastor Davis)

PLAN and purpose for their lives. The cross is no joke; it is the reality of Christ’s death for your victory over the world. You can continue to live in this world, partying and having fun, proclaiming that you are a Christian, but remember, your actions speak louder than your words. Jesus was not pretending when he allowed himself to be executed for our sins. We should obey the Lord in every detail as we seek to live a Christian life as we help those that are lost in Christ, find their way and understanding of THE HEART OF THE CROSS and what salvation truly means in their lives. If we truly want to know how to live a perfect life and experience victory over the enemy attacks on our well being, then I say to you right here in now, turn away from the world and look to Jesus as the perfect example.

May this lesson today be a blessing to your life and the people that God has placed in your life as a blessing to your soul.  Now we encourage you to use it, to bless others that we all may receive and experience God’s amazing grace.  I minister to you today from a position of peace, purpose, power and prosperity. I remain your brother in Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher.

THE KING OF THE JEWS

THE WAY TO THE KINGDOM IS THE WAY TO THE CROSS (MARK 15:25-27)

The King of the Jews Crucifixion (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

And it was the third hour (about nine o’clock in the morning) when they crucified Him.  And the inscription of the accusation against Him was written above,

The King of the Jews.

And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on [His] right hand and one on His left.  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, He was counted among the transgressors.

Jesus was placed on the cross at nine o’clock in the morning.  A signboard stating as a warning.  Because Jesus was never found guilty, the only accusation placed on his sign was the “crime” of calling himself King of the Jews.  This sign was meant to be ironic.  A king, stripped and executed in public view, had obviously lost his kingdom forever.  But Jesus, who turns the world’s wisdom upside down, was just coming into his kingdom.  His death and resurrection would strike the deathblow to Satan’s rule and would establish Christ’s eternal authority over the earth.  Few people reading the sign that bleak day understood its real meaning but the sign was absolutely true.  Jesus is king of the Jews, and the Gentiles, and the whole universe.

When James and John had asked Jesus for the places of honor next to him in his kingdom, Jesus had told them that they did not know what they were asking (Mark 10:35-39).  Here, as Jesus was preparing to inaugurate his kingdom through his death, the places on his right and on his left were taken by two criminals.

A person who wants to be close to Jesus must be prepared to suffer and die as he himself was doing.  The way to the kingdom is the way of the cross.  If we want the glory of the kingdom, we must be willing to be united with the crucified Christ.

We bless this word to each one of you this morning.  Come and worship with us this coming Sunday Morning at 0700, for a very Special Palm Sunday Morning Prayer, Praise and Worship Service.  May your day be filled with Joy, Love and Peace.

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SIMON OF CYRENE WAS THE BLACK HANDS THAT HELP TO CARRY THE CROSS

Simon of Cyrene the black hands that helped carry the cross (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

And when they had [finished] making sport of Him, they took the purple [robe] off Him and put His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out [of the city] to crucify Him.

And they forced a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the field (country), to carry His cross.

And they led Him to Golgotha [in Latin: Calvary], meaning The Place of a Skull.  (Mark 15:20-22 AMP).

In verse 21, Mark tells us that Simon of Cyrene, was coming into the city from the countryside into the city of Jerusalem, but the Lord was traveling out of the city.  These two men were traveling in opposite directions.  Simon was coming in and the Lord was going out being led by the Roman Soldiers and a large crowd of haters.  Simon suddenly found himself turned around at the instructions of the Centurion and finds his life walking in exactly the opposite direction from where he was first headed.  Meeting Christ at this point and being forced to place his hands on the cross and carry it would be a life changing experience for him.

Now some of you might ask, “why would he ever mention Simon of Cyrene as the Black Hands on the cross, and how would he even know that Simon of Cyrene was a Black Man?  For those of you who are truth seekers, these would be legitimate questions to ask.  For me as a Minister of the Gospel, called and ordained to come boldly before the throne of grace, and speak truth to power, convince, rebuke, exhort and teach, it is my job to empower you with knowledge in order that you may know the truth and the truth will truly set you free.  (John 8:32)

For me to state here with absolute certain that Simon of Cyrene was a Black Man is impossible.  This is a question that has been debated by Scholars worldwide for hundreds of years.  However, I should start by pointing out it is difficult to determine with accuracy black men and women in the Bible because the Bible is color-neutral. There is never any reference to race or racial features. The main distinction throughout the Bible is between those that serve God and those that do not, whether as individuals or as nations. It is not definite that everyone from Ethiopia or Cyrene was black, but certainly you could reasonably assume that it was a good possibility. So this study will have to be considered reasonable speculation.

We know very little about Simon. We see from this Mark’s writing that he had come from the country to Jerusalem on this occasion, perhaps on business. He must have been a strong man. I don’t think the soldiers would have picked a weakling. God had appointed him to be there, not to help Jesus with the cross, but to encounter the one who was to be crucified for his sins. Except for Mark’s obscure reference to Rufus and Alexander we would have no more information about Simon.

What we do know about Simon called Niger is his name.  Simon is a Jewish name and Niger comes from the Latin word for “black”.  It’s safe to say he was Jewish and may have been called “Black” simply because of his looks.

Research shows that Simon of Cyrene was from a country in ancient northern Africa (bordering Egypt) called Libya. According to Spirit of English Magazine Vol. 10, pg. 286; in ancient times Libya contained two countries Cyrenaica and Marmarica.  Wikipedia [the on line encyclopedia], shares that Libya was until recent times, the home of one the oldest Jewish communities in the world, dating back to at least 300 BC. In the 1st century, the Jewish historian for the Roman Empire, Josephus Flavius, noted 500,000 Jews lived in Libya. By today’s standards, people from North Africa may or may not be classified as Black. The New Testament, let’s us in on the fact that Joseph, Mary and Jesus spent time in Egypt, This raises an equally intriguing question as to whether or not Simon’s friend, Joseph of Marmarica (a.k.a. Joseph of Marmore, Joseph of Arimathea, brother of Jesus’ grandmother) from the neighboring district of Marmonica/Marmarica, should also be classified as African or Black. –Satchell Intell.

We find here in (Matthew 27:32 NKJV).  Simon of Cyrene was from Ethiopia, and this text and the identity of this man clearly reminds us all of us today that all cultures were represented at Calvary and in the church.  This further reminds us that wise men of all ages would be honored to be allowed to perform the task that was conferred upon Simon of Cyrene, the Ethiopia from northwestern Africa.  Whether it was voluntary or by force, in any case, black hands were extended to help the Savior bear His cross.  The Ethiopian eunuch from Africa (Acts 8:26) was the first Gentile convert mentioned by name in the Book of Acts.  History reports that he returned to Ethiopia to found the Abyssinian Christian Church, which exists until this day.

May God’s saving grace, be with each one of you whose hands, regardless of their color, feel obligated to pick-up your cross and carry it this day be blessed with love, peace and power.  Only because Jesus loved all of us and died for our sins do we have the opportunity to celebrate his life, death and resurrection on this EASTER weekend.  I remain your brother in Jesus Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher!

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Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber to be an example of a charismatic religious leader. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOSPEL

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND AND JESUS PREACHED IT

Now let us understand this one truth, and that there is, “ONLY ONE GOSPEL;” Jesus preached it, transmitted it to His disciples, and has committed it to His church.  Paul warned us against ever receiving any other gospel. “Any other” may be either a message of outright error or an argument for a diluted message, devoid of power though nominally Christian.  Jude 3 urges us always to contend for the original, “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”  Hold to the full “gospel of the kingdom,” and expect the Lord to confirm that “word” with the signs He promised.

Therefore, after John was put in prison Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

It is clear to all of us that the early church proclaimed the same message Jesus preached, that is, “the gospel of the kingdom of God.”  Also they experienced the same confirming evidences that were present in His ministry.

You truly must know without a doubt that Jesus‘ministry did not begin until He received His “anointing” as the Messiah, the empowering that came through the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Him.  Though conceived and born by the Spirit’s power, He insisted that John baptize Him, not for repentance, but because He knew the Holy Spirit would come upon Him at that time.  From that moment forward, He is led by the Spirit and moves into the ministry declaring the presence of God’s kingdom and manifesting its miracles, signs, and wonders.

This pathway points each believer to the need for power, if kingdom ministry is to be advanced through us, His church. Like Him, we, too, are “born of the Spirit.” Though obviously, our spiritual birth is not as His biological virgin birth, the point remains.

Spiritual rebirth saves, but spiritual inducement is needed for ministering in kingdom power.  Similarly, our justification in Christ-being declared sinless (2 Cor. 5:21)-does not qualify for kingdom power in ministry.  In His incarnation Jesus’ Person and perfection exceeded ours in every way, yet Jesus still acknowledged the need for His own receiving of the power of the Holy Spirit to pursue His ministry.  What more needs to be said?  Let each of us personally hear His command: “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (John 20:22).

Now let us conclude with this thought, by encouraging you to think deeply on the Kingdom of God and its meaning in your life. Today I minister to you from a position of peace, power, purpose and prosperity. Always encouraging you to think globally and work locally.  I remain your brother in Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher.

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GOD IS OUR LIFE GIVER THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

 Written by Shirley Rhodes

Life (Photo by Pastor Davis)

In our lesson today, let me share with you God’s word on living your life in the fullness of all that He has provided you through Jesus Christ.  The Scriptures teaches us in John 8:32, to know the truth and the truth will set you free.  This lesson presents you with five key ingredients of that truth to help you live the life God has purposed for you.

Now let us understand that our Life is given to us through Jesus Christ; he knows our thoughts, desires and what we need even when we make decisions or choices that lead us astray.  One good thing about a relationship with him is that he understands when we make honest mistakes. There may be times that we as believers will not see how the Holy Spirit is directing our lives or may rely on or receive bad advice from a friend. God looks at the heart and may even allow poor judgment (decisions) to run its course, but he will not shame his children for an honest error, he can (and will) often turn what seem like a bad situation into something good for his own use. If God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking of your-self more than of him. He offers us hope, faith, love, joy and peace; it’s all there, so grab hold.

Life in Hope:

Although times may seem hard at the present moment there is still hope. Paul gives us a glimpse of what it’s like living in expectancy when he penned these thoughts; I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. Difficult times of pain throughout the world are around us and within us, the Spirit of God is arousing us within; the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our wait. When we get tired of waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. He does our praying in and for us, he knows us far better than we know ourselves (Romans 8: 9-28, MGS)

Life in Faith:

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.  This is what the ancients were commended for; Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and so many more moved in faith. All were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:1-16, NIV).

Life of Love:

Jesus says, “If any of you wants to serve me, and then follow me, then you’ll be where I am, the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” (John 12: 26 KJV). He commands that we live a life of love for every-one, that means that no matter how someone my treat you or what they say about you, you are to love unconditionally.  Jesus says, “If you love me you will keep my commandments (John 14:15 KJV). This is my commandment, love one another as I have loved you, greater love have no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” For God have not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV).  This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit (1 John 4:13 MGS). God is love. The scriptures remind us, that if anyone boasts, “I love God,” and hates his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from God is blunt: Loving God includes loving people, you’ve got to love both (20, 21 MGS).

Joy (gladness):

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy (Psalm 126:5).

Peace (calm response):

The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace (Psalm 29:11).

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HOW JESUS DEFEATED SATAN IN OPEN COMBAT

We all will face temptation of some sort in our lives.  How we deal with it will be a test of our faith and determination to always be obedient to the word of God.  In today’s market place with so many people facing poverty, and their faith being tested by the devil daily from lack of the basic necessities of life, such as not enough food to eat, unable to pay their mortgages and car notes, not being able to find a job, the prices of everything continues to rise and the income of so many people remain unchanged.

TEMPTATION (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

In our quest to rise from the jaws of defeat and grow in God’s grace by living a righteous life and not subsuming to Satan’s temptation, we will do well to learn how Jesus took Satin on in open combat and defeated him.  After Jesus baptism, he left the Jordan River to go out into the wilderness.  Jesus then took the offensive against his enemy, the Devil, by going into the wilderness to face temptation.  Now I ask you, would you put yourself in the same situation, knowing today how cunning the Devil is?

Now let us be under no false elusion concerning the Devil.  He is a real being, a created yet rebellious fallen angel, and not a symbol or an idea.  He constantly fights against God and those who follow and obey God.  Satan is not omnipresent, nor is he all powerful.   Through the evil spirits under his dominion, Satan works everywhere attempting to draw people away from God and into his own darkness.

It was the Holy Spirit that compelled Jesus into the wilderness where God put Jesusto the test not to

THE BEAUTY OF BEING AND EXISTENCE IN THE WILDERNESS (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

see if Jesus was ready, but to show that he was ready for his mission.  Satan, however, had other plans; he hoped to thwart Jesus mission by tempting him to do evil.  Why was it necessary for Jesus to be tempted?  Temptation is part of the human experience.  For Jesus to be fully human, he had to face temptation.  Jesus had to undo Adam’s work.  Adam, though created perfect, gave in to temptation and passed sin on to the whole human race.  Jesus, by contrast, resisted Satan.  His victory offers salvation to Adam’s descendants.

We can assume from our studies that during those forty days, Jesus ate nothing; therefore at the end he was very hungry.  Jesus status as God’s Son did not make this fast any easier; his physical body suffered the severe hunger and pain of going without sustenance.  The three temptations recorded in the scriptures which we will now discuss here was at his most a physically weakened state.

Now let us look at the first temptation, what was said and how Jesus handled it.  The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: “Since you’re God’s Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread. “Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to really live.”  (Luke 4:3-4 AMP)  On the surface, this might seem to be a fairly harmless act, even a compassionate suggestion.  Jesus was very hungry, so why not use the resources at his command and change a stone into a loaf of bread?  In this case, however, the sin was not in the act but in the reason behind it.  The Devil was trying to get Jesus to take a shortcut, to solve his immediate problem at the expense of his long range goals, to seek comfort at the sacrifice of his discipline.  Satan often works that way—persuading people to take action, even right action, for the wrong reason or at the wrong time.  The fact that something is not wrong in itself does not mean that it is good for someone at a given time.  Many people sin by attempting to fulfill legitimate desires outside of God’s will or ahead of his timetable.

As we stated in the beginning of this lesson, “we will all face some sort of temptation at some point in our lives, how we deal with them at the moment we are confronted with it will be the test of whether we fail are if we endure to fight another day.  Jesus understood that obedience to the Father’s mission was more important than food.  Making himself bread would have shown that he had not quite set aside all his powers, had not humbled himself, and had not identified completely with the human race.  But Jesus refuse, showing that he would use his powers only in submission to God’s plan.

GOD’S VAST RESOURCES (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, “They’re yours in their entire splendor to serve your pleasure. I’m in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they’re yours, the whole works.”  (Luke 4:5-7 AMP).  Now the Devil truly does have his game face on, and by offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth, he figures he has him right where he wants him and Jesus seeing that the Devil can offer him the world that was once his, Jesus will more than jump for this grand offer.

The Devil’s grand plan was to succeed in his rebellion against God by diverting Jesus from his mission and winning his worship.  Satan tempted Jesus to take the world as an earthly Kingdom right hen, without carrying out the plan to save the world from sin.  For Jesus, that meant obtaining his promised dominion over the world without experiencing the suffering and death of the cross.  Satan offered a painless shortcut.  But Satan didn’t understand that suffering, and death were a part of God’s plan that Jesus had chosen to obey.

The fact that Jesus could see all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time supports the view that this experience was visionary.  The focus is not on the mountain, but on those kingdoms that were (and are) under Satan’s dominion (John 12:3).  Satan offered to give dominion over the world to Jesus.  This challenged Jesus obedience to God’s timing and will.  Satan’s temptation was, in essence, “Why wait?  I can give this to you now!”  Of course, the offer had a catch:  “If you will bow down and worship me.”

We know Jesus was not about to do this, so what was he to do?  Jesus once again following scripture, backed  his refusal with Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”  For Jesus to gain rule over the world by worshiping Satan would not only be a contradiction (Satan would still be in control), but it would also break the first commandment, “You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him: (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 13).  To accomplish his mission of bringing salvation to the world, Jesus would take the path of submission to God.

Now as we come into the home stretch of Satan trying to out for nest the master, scripture says this,

Upon this Rock Satan commands Jesus to Jump (Photo by Pastor Davis)

“For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, “If you are God’s Son, jump. It’s written, isn’t it, that ‘he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone’?”  (Luke 4:9-11 AMP).

Whether the Devil physically took Jesus to Jerusalem, or whether this occurred in a vision is unclear.  In any case, Satan was setting the stage for his next temptation.  Jesus had quoted Scripture in response to ‘Satan’s other temptations.  Here Satan tried the same tactic with Jesus: he used Scripture to try to convince Jesus to sin!  Satan was quoting from Psalm 91:11-12 to support his request.  The psalm describes God’s protection for those who trust him.  Obviously Satan was misinterpreting Scripture, making it sound as though God protests even through sin, removing the natural consequences of sinful acts. Jumping from the roof in order to test God’s protection for those who, while being in his will and serving him, find themselves in danger.  It does not promise protection for artificially created crises in which Christians call to God in order to test his love and care.

An artificially created crisis is what we as the people of America and the world find ourselves in today with our government leaders.  This is causing hardship on many people, providing Satan with powers to set us up for destruction and disobedient of God’s will, but Jesus would have none of this and we as faithful servant’s should study Jesus mode of face to face combat with this powerful enemy, and perhaps we could learn a thing or two in how we can face Satin down when he attacks us.

Remember, the Bible clearly teaches us, to study in order that we may gain the knowledge to activate the powers God has already provided to us in order that we may fight Satin with the same tools as Jesus did.

Wide-margin Study Bible (Photo credit: agent_mikejohnson)

Now this is how Jesus handles Satan’s third and final attach at this time.  He said, “ [The Scripture] says, You shall not tempt (try,test exceedingly) the Lord your God. (Luke 4:12 AMP).  Jesus used the Scripture with an understanding of the true meaning.  The facts were that while God promises to protect his people, he also requires that they not test him.  In the passage in Deuteronomy 6:16, Moses was referring to an incident during Israel’s wilderness wanderings, recorded in Exodus 17:1-7.  The people were thirsty and ready to commit mutiny against Moses and return to Egypt if he did not provide them with water.  Jesus knew that for him to jump from the pinnacle of the Temple, would have been a ridiculous test of God’s power, and it would have been out of God’s will.  Jesus knew that his Father could protect him; he also understood that all his actions were to be focused on fulfilling his Father’s mission.

Jesus remains to this day obedient to his Father’s will and not to Satin’s temptation.  Now my question is to each one of you again, how would you have handled Satin’s attempts to provide you with money, fame and power over the world in light of your present situation?

We encourage you, to be obedient to God, and do not allow Satin to take you out of God’s will.  It is the only will that can provide you with eternal life.  So please stop taking it for granted.  The choice is clearly yours to make.  No one forces you to do wrong.  So chose this day, whom you will serve.  We minister to you from a position of peace, purpose, power and prosperity.  I remain your brother in CHRIST, PASTOR DAVIS/MASTER TEACHER!

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THE JOURNEY OF LOVE AND COMMITMENT

RIVER OF LIFE (Photo by Pastor Davis)

THE JOURNEY OF LOVE AND COMMITMENT FOR THE CAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST

By Shirley Rhodes

In Search of Peace:

Today, we set out on The Journey of Love and Commitment for the Cause of Jesus Christ, and if you are seen as “weird,” “strange,” or “indifferent,” it’s okay. If you are following the pattern Jesus has given, you’re on a journey that will take you beyond your wildest dreams, just remember, this journey is about love and commitment for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Now let us see how Jesus wants us to prepare for this journey, and we begin with:

• Sanctification—make holy, set apart
• Obedience
• Commitment

When we follow the patterns of scripture, it says,  “teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom Psalm 90:12.”

Now let us understand how the pattern of following Jesus on this JOURNEY works.  The things that are holy belong to God and are sacred (special, precious); we hold such gifts close to our hearts because they are blessed.

When we are chosen, we’re set apart from the things of this world; we come out of darkness and follow “the light” that is spirit. Unless we are willing to accept this gift of light we have no inner peace,

The Mystery of the forces of darkness (Photo by Shirley Rhodes)

nothing really satisfies the thirst for righteousness. When we wonder about in life, do we ponder the meaning of the many gifts before us and offer praise and thanksgiving or do we literally take life for-granted.  Sanctification sets us apart and instills our hearts and spirit with the desire to follow the pattern Jesus gave.

When we stop and read (learn) of his message and how it applies to our daily life, we process our thoughts and focus on what lies in front of us as the JOURNEY begins. God gave his Son so that we are able to share in his glory.

There are those who are always finding fault, pre-judging, accusing, doubting and giving their opinion of who we are and we allow those acts to influence how we live, but that do not have to be. Jesus made attempts, performed many miracles, gave us instruction for life, He was loving, patient and kind, yet there were (and are) so many who still prefer to wander in darkness than make the sacrifice to follow his pattern of teaching for life.  This is the generation that seek him Psalm 24:6

Jesus summed it all up this way when He said, “Whoever believes in me, believe not just in me, but the One who sent me. Whoever looks at me is in fact, looking at the One who sent me. I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won’t have to stay any longer in the dark. If anyone hears what I’m saying and doesn’t take it seriously, I don’t reject him. I didn’t come to reject the world; I came to save the world. Whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I’m saying is willfully choosing rejection. The Father sent me, gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. I know exactly what his command produces, eternal life. What the Father told me, I tell you” (John 12:44-50, Mgs)

Then Jesus moves on and provides us with His greatest lesson of all times by teaching us to love thy neighbor as thy self:

The Joy of Loving one another

He didn’t just stop there, He went on to say, “Children, I’m with you for only a short time longer; let me give you a new command:  Love one another in the same way I loved you. When everyone sees the love you have for each other they will know that you are my disciples (34-35).

Whatever you request along the lines of which I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. Whatever you request in this way I will do it. Because a loveless world, is a sightless world, if anyone loves me he will carefully keep my word and the Father will love him. The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you.

Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned bereft (23-28). If you find the godless world hating you, remember it got its’ start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of their own, but since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms, the world is going to hate you (15:18-19). Fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness (16:20). Your joy will be a river overflowing it’s banks”(24).

In closing, we encourage you to stay focus on the prize and keep in the forefront of your mind that, “THE JOURNEY OF LOVE AND COMMITMENT FOR THE CAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST is one that you have been chosen to participate in and enjoy all the fruits that God has provided for you along the way.  Love one another, He says, as I have loved you! Now enjoy the moment!  And He closes with, “I will be with you, even to the end of time.”  AMEN!

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THE SECRET PLAN OF GOD

God created the Secret of it’s beauty (Photo by Shirley Rhodes)

BY SHIRLEY RHODES

According to Paul’s’ writings, the mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, the same help and same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone.  We as followers should be about following the pattern. As Paul penned these words as the secret plan of God: 

My task is to bring out in the open, make plain what God, who created this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels! All is proceeding as planned by God and then executed in Christ Jesus. So, when we trust in him, we are free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go.

In prayer I ask God to strengthen you by his spirit (a glorious inner strength) that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. I ask him that with both feet firmly planted in love you’ll be able to take in with followers of Jesus the extravagant dimension of Christ’s love. REACH OUT AND EXPERIENCE THE BREATH! TEST THE LENGTH! PLUMB THE DEPTHS! RISE TO THE HEIGHTS! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

God can do anything you know, far more than you could ever imagine, guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

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JESUS PROCLAIMED THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom of God (Photo by Pastor Davis)

by Shirley Rhodes

Jesus challenged the people to expect God’s rein and to change their lives to fit the will of God:

Even during his teachings, Jesus did not limit himself to teaching behind closed doors, associate with or establish his ministry among wealth, political programs, and social transformation or even with the end of the world. He spoke of the kingdom of God as something in the future and also as present in his own ministry. He even made it clear to those who listen that, “the kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed”; rather “the kingdom of God is in the mist of you” (Luke: 17: 20-21).

          Understanding the meaning of these words are so, so important for us today because many of us live with the illusion that once they have completed this earthly realm, they will progress to a place where all share in one big joyous event. Jesus clearly lets’ us know that we are living in God’s kingdom here, this is his creation, his gift to mankind (his created beings) and there is no end to the universe. Many find it almost impossible to wrap their minds around this reality.

Jesus often preferred to define the Kingdom of God by the kinds of people to whom it belonged:

“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). “Let the children come to me, for such belongs to the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Jesus taught through parables and a person that was around him was able to recognize every-day things such as seeds, yeast, vineyards etc.

Jesus faced opposition in his teachings but never faltered, he confronted their slander:

“This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse. There’s nothing said or done that can’t be forgiven, but if you deliberately persist in your slander against God’s Spirit, you are repudiating the very one who forgives. If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you’re sawing off the branch on which you’re sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives. If you grow a healthy tree, you’ll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you’ll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree” (Matthew 12:25-33).

As many of the people opposed Jesus’ teachings, their anger would eventually filter down to Judas, one of his disciples who would later betray him, resulting in his trial and execution.  It was not until after this event that the full meaning of his message was clear in the hearts of his followers. When they realized God had raised Jesus from the dead and they received the Holy Spirit their agenda was to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. That today is our mission as well.

Jesus commanded us to go:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)

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DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW JESUS CHRIST DAILY LIVES HIS LIFE IN YOU?

THE SUNRISE (Photo by Pastor Davis) The sun is high in the firmament above me and yet, by its heat, penetrates my bones and marrow and quickens my whole life.

Now before you continue reading and studying this lesson push the pause button on your thoughts and think deeply on this question, “DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW JESUS CHRIST DAILY LIVES HIS LIFE IN YOU?”  The question is not an idle one and it is certainly not one that is meant to trip you up.  We just want you to understand without an ounce of doubt just how Jesus lives and functions in your life daily doing all the things you are capable of doing without you ever having to think about how He is operating within you.

To understand this clearly you must comprehend the meaning of the VINE AND BRANCH.  What is the VINE and BRANCH?  Listen to how Jesus explains it’s meaning, He says, “I am the VINE; you are the BRANCHES. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  (John 15:5 ESV).  Here once again I ask you to pause your thoughts, and think deeply on this passage, because sometimes we read it and move onto the next passage without considering just what Jesus is attempting to teach us.

Now that you understand it, come with me on this journey and allow me to share with you a deeper meaning of WHAT IT MEANS TO UNDERSTAND HOW JESUS CHRIST DAILY LIVES HIS LIFE IN YOU.  It is often difficult to believe that we who are on this earth can really know ourselves to be always, without interruption, in His hands and under His power.  How much clearer and more glorious the truth becomes when the Spirit reveals to us that Jesus Christ is in us.  He is in us, not only as a tenant in a house or water in a glass, but rather like the soul is in the body moving every part and never separated from each other.

Yes, Jesus Christ dwells in us, penetrating our whole nature with His nature.  The Holy Spirit came for the purpose of making Jesus deeply present within us.  The sun is high in the firmament above me and yet, by its heat, penetrates my bones and marrow and quickens my whole life.

Likewise, the Lord Jesus, who is exalted high in heaven, penetrates my whole nature by His Spirit until all my willing, thinking, and feeling are moved by Him.

Once this fact is fully grasped, we no longer think of an external keeping through a person outside of us in heaven.  We become convinced that our life is quickened by One who, in a divine manner, occupies the heart.  Then we see how natural, how certain, and how blessed it is that the indwelling Jesus keeps the blessing and always maintains the fullness of the Spirit.

My Brothers and Sisters, I ask you today, is there anyone among you who is longing for this life in the fullness of blessing, yet is afraid to enter into it because he does not know how to persevere?  Jesus will make this blessing continuous and sure.  Is there any one of you who longs for it and cannot understand wherein the secret lies?  The blessing is this, as Jesus Christ was with His disciples daily in bodily fashion, so He will, by His Spirit, daily live His life in you.  No one can fully understand how things look on the top of a mountain until he himself has been there.

Although you do not understand everything, believe that the Lord Jesus has sent His Spirit with no other object in view than to keep you in His divine power.  Trust Him for this.  Let all burdens be laid aside to receive this blessing from Him as a fountain which He Himself will cause to spring up in you unto everlasting life.

Now as we pause at an unknown station on this journey for a moment in time, it is my hope that you have thought deeply on this question, “DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW JESUS CHRIST DAILY LIVES HIS LIFE IN YOU?”  Your thought process has allowed you to comprehend what it means to have Jesus living daily in your life, blessing you as you go about doing his will.  Know that we have ministered this message to you and taken you on this journey today from the position of God’ PURPOSE that He has given to each of us, sent us on this journey to discover the truth that the truth will set us free and he done this in PEACE with all POWER centered in his hand because he told us that He was the true VINE and we are the BRANCES, Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  By abiding in Jesus and He living inside of you, and you are truly committed to doing His will, you will enjoy real PROSPERITY.  I remain your brother in Jesus Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher!

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The Lord is my Good Shepherd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

FREEDOM IS YOURS IF YOU DESIRE TO HAVE IT

Remember this one truth, if you remember nothing else in your life, and that is this, “FREEDOM IS YOURS IF YOU DESIRE TO HAVE IT!”  In the past you have allowed yourself to live in captive, drug down, stepped on, and the invisible yoke of bondage put around your neck, and the heavy bondage of life worries placed upon your back.  You walked around with your head hung down, your shoulders bent over, and afraid to look up and experience the beauty and joy of all that God had provided for you.  The thief came in the front door and stole all the love and joy away from you.  You were unable to hold onto your job, and therefore all your earthly goods and everything that you had perceived as good was stolen away from you.

Now you are suffering from a lack of determination, no energy and fight left in you to be able to take back what was stolen.  Jesus has warned you that the thief was going to do this.  However, you allowed your mind to set idle, doing nothing good for yourself, becoming a couch potato with the T.V. remote pointing and flicking from channel to channel and the cell phone constantly dialing and gossiping about who is sleeping with who.

Now listen to the truth of Jesus words as he was warning the people, “Jesus told this simple story, but the people had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.  (John 10:10-12 MSG).

Your life is worth more to Jesus than a job with the money you will earn to pay your bills.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He is the one that will preserve your mind from the idle thoughts that allows the thief to enter in and still and kill you.  Haven’t you allowed him to do enough damage to you?  Listen up, “FREEDOM IS YOURS IF YOU DESIRE TO HAVE IT!”

Now as we conclude this word of truth, it is my hope that this word has stirred up a passion in your soul and given you new life to begin a new way of thinking and living, allow Jesus to have the final word that can make you whole and bring truth and salvation to your soul.  Here then are the words of Jesus.   “Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said, “The old life is a grass life,
its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries up, flowers droop, God’s Word goes on and on forever. This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.  (1 Peter 1:22-25 MSG)

After this Jesus spoke and then gave us the greatest commandment of all, and this is what he said, “And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment.

The Second Is Like It and Is This, You Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself. There Is No Other Commandment Greater Than These. (Mark 12:30-31 AMP)

Now my brothers and sisters, it is with great joy that I am thrill beyond my own imagination that you have comprehended what has been taught here and you will use it to your benefit to rise above where you are right now to the level God is trying to push you to be.  I urge you to think globally and work locally.  I minister to you today from a position of peace, power, purpose and prosperity because; this is the Word that conceived the new life in you, and “FREEDOM IS YOURS IF YOU DESIRE TO HAVE IT!”

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LIVING IN THE WORLD AS LIGHT FOR THE WORLD

God‘s Marvelous Light (Photo by Pastor Davis)

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  (John 1:4-5 ESV)

We are either living in the light are we are living in darkness.  The life that we live today reflect the light that shines within us, which telegraphs to the world the condition of our spirit.  It will say that our spirit is either good or it is evil.  For those people who hate the light are those who want to sin in the darkness.  Evil deeds are revealed by the light, so people who want to do evil must do it in the dark so they cannot be exposed and caught in the act.

Light means understanding and moral insight, spiritual vision.  But more than just shinning or reflecting, the light of Jesus penetrates and enlightens our hearts and minds.  Everyone who comes into contact with Christ can be enlightened.  When Christ’s light shines, we see our sin and his glory, Therefore, we can refuse to see the light and remain in darkness.  But whoever responds will be enlightened by Christ.  He will fill our minds with God’s thoughts.  He will guide our path, give us God’s perspective, and drive out the darkness of sin.

Now as you read and listen to the truth, know that the timeless light has invaded our time, and we can see it in our darkness.  As the light shines, it drives away the darkness, for the unsaved world is blinded by the prince of this world.  Christ’s light shined to a hardened, darkened humanity and he continues to shine.  But the darkness can never extinguish it.  This statement indicates the struggle between the darkness and the light.  Unregenerate humanity under the influence of Satan, the prince of darkness, has not accepted the light and even resists the light.  Thus, “darkness” indicated ignorance and sin, active rejection of God’s will.  Those in darkness reject Christ, his light, and his followers.  But no matter how deep the darkness, even a small light can drive it back.  The power of Christ’s light overcomes any darkness in the world.

Therefore, brothers and sisters we encourage you to live in the light as the light that shines and reflects your true spirit that will help bring salvation to the world.  We leave you with our peace that you will become a disciple of Jesus and carry his message into darkness of this world.  I remain your brother in Jesus Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher!

However, as we depart for the moment, let me leave you with my prayer blessing for you this day. Take a moment listen and meditate on what is presented to you here and now.

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MEETING A STRANGER THAT IS THRISTY WOULD YOU OFFER THEM A DRINK OF WATER?

Jacob‘s Well (Photo by Pastor Davis)

The physical water we drink is such a precious commodity that in some parts of the world fresh clean drinking water is very difficult to obtain.  But the question here is not how difficult it is to obtain, but whether or not after MEETING A STRANGER THAT IS THRISTY WOULD YOU OFFER THEM A DRINK OF WATER?  I put this question to a number of people random selected just to get an honest respond, and here is what most of them told me.  “In the climate of robbery, murder and hate that now prevails over us, most of them said they would not speak to a stranger, stop for a stranger on the street, open their doors to a stranger even if they thought that the stranger was about to die.”  This truly tells us a lot about how we as a society feel about our brothers and sisters that are in need of something as simple as a drink of water.

When we as Christians get caught up in the world and come to believe that because the world is evil and filled with many evil doers we now have to separate ourselves from the physical and spiritual needs of our brothers and sisters, we have now begin to live as the world lives.  This is not the way Jesus wants us to respond to our brothers and sisters.  Here is what he tells us to do, he says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  (Romans 12:2 ESV)

The Samaritan woman that met Jesus at the well found herself in this position, when a stranger asked her for a drink of water.  Here is how she responded to that stranger, the bible says, “A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)

The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”  The Samaritan woman was very surprised—first, that a Jew would even speak to a Samaritan; second, that a Jewish male would speak to a Samaritan woman (she also had a bad reputation and this was a public place); third, that a Jew would drink from a Samaritan’s cup.  The Jewish ceremonial laws described not only certain people as ceremonially unclean, but also anything they touched.  In strict religious terms, many Jews of Jesus’ time considered the Samaritans to be permanently unclean.

However, Jesus answered her and said, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”

The woman said, “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this ‘living water’? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?”

Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!”  (John 4:7-15 ESV)

Let us know this fact, that is, not everyone that may ask you for a drink of water, is not there to rob you of your earthly goods, or even to take your life.  It is possible that the person that asks you for a drink of water might be really thirsty or in a spiritual need of a blessing.

We know that we as a people need water daily, because we soon become thirsty again and again.  The water from Jacob’s well would indeed satisfy the woman’s thirst, but only temporarily.  So also are all the other “drinks” of life—they never really satisfy or quench or thirst.  Some of them even create more thirst.

The human needs for love, food, sex, security, and approval, even when met, do not give complete satisfaction.  Attempts to find full satisfaction will lead only to disappointment and despair.  But the water Jesus offers takes away thirst altogether.  Jesus’ “water” continually satisfies the desire for God’s presence because it becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.  The gift that Jesus gives—this perpetual spring—suggests the availability, accessibility, and abundance of the divine life for all believers.  Now watch this short video clip and discover who the woman at the well really is.

Therefore, I say to you, in all that we do day in and day out, let us learn to live the life worthy of Jesus, willing to help our brothers and sisters by giving them not only a drink of physical water but also offering them the spiritual water of eternal life and doing so not out of fear, but giving out of love.  God is love, we are love, in God, and he created us out of love and taught us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.  I have ministered this message to you this day out of my love for each one of you and in hope that you will in term do the same for all the people that come into your presents this day.  I remain your brother in Jesus Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher!

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HAVE YOU EATEN A MEAL THAT WAS SATISFYING TO YOUR SOUL TODAY?   

Mature Couple Eating Dinner

Here is how Jesus answers this question; Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (John 4:34 ESV)

Each day we participate in eaten of the many different foods that are satisfying to our taste buds.  We do this in a way to build our physical strength that provides nourishment to our souls.  This is a very good thing, but in addition to the physical foods we eat we also need to take in our daily rations of spiritual foods.  When we decide to skip our spiritual meals, we find our minds not properly responding to our needs in our daily lives and we wonder why we are not able to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves, or why we are feeling depress and living in lack with everything tossing and turning upside down.  This was the case of the Samaritan woman that met Jesus at the well.  Her life had been in turmoil and Jesus provided her with a spiritual meal that completely changed her life at that very moment.

The Disciples had left Jesus at the well and gone into town to buy some food.  When they returned with all the fresh food they had purchased at the local market, they urged Jesus to eat some of what they had just purchased, but Jesus response was baffling to them.  He said, “I have food you don’t know about.”  The disciples thought he was talking about physical food; instead, Jesus was saying that he was spiritually satisfied by having shared the Good News with the Samaritan woman.

This statement of having food you don’t know nothing about clearly shows us that Jesus lived to please his Father and in so doing found spiritual nourishment.  Doing the will of God meant that Jesus submitted himself to the Father’s plan and enjoyed carrying out his Father’s desires.  Satisfying the Father gave Jesus true satisfaction.  Finishing God’s work speaks of completing the task—all the way from sowing the seed to reaping the harvest.

Jesus clearly enjoyed partaking of all the Spiritual Foods God had provided for him.  When we learn that daily we must partake of our spiritual foods as a way of satisfying not only our physical needs, but a way to meet the spiritual needs of our families, our churches, our communities and our country.  When we begin to look out for our brothers and sisters as Jesus taught us in this lesson by looking out after the needs of the Samaritan woman we will then be doing the will of God, and we too can begin to enjoy the spiritual foods that others know nothing about.  What do you think?

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WHEN YOU SERVE AND FOLLOW JESUS YOU MUST MAKE A RADICAL LIFESTYLE CHANGE

Now Faith Is (Photo by Pastor Davis)

True followers of Jesus must have their priorities in order; if they choose to love their life more than their Master, they will lose the very life they seek to maintain.  True disciples must be willing to suffer and experience rejection, even unto death if need be.  To serve and follow Jesus means making radical lifestyle changes.  To follow Jesus means going the way he went not the way of earthly power and honor but the way of humility and death.  Everything Jesus did was for God’s glory.  When we choose to follow him we must live for God’s glory alone.  This does not mean we have no fun, no joy, and no security.  Rather, it simply means we live to honor God and then the Father will honor us.

In this lesson Jesus speaks truth to power in a no non sense manner in order that there will be no doubt whatsoever in our thinking about what we must do. He says, “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.”

“If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.”

“Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.’”

A voice came out of the sky: “I have glorified it, and I’ll glorify it again.”  (John 12:25-28 MSG)

The honor from God that Jesus promises May in fact is partly experienced in this life, but never entirely.  And for many believers, what God has planned by way of honor we can only guess.  Meanwhile we can derive real comfort and security from knowing that God observes and remember each and every act of service we do in is name.  None will be forgotten.

Therefore, let us learn to live our life for God, in the online world as well the physical world, thinking globally and working locally to make God the center of all that we do.  I remain your brother in Jesus Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher!

Now take a moment and focus on this prayer and allow it to sooth your soul, calm your mind and renew your spirits.

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Christ forgives the prostitute (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.” LUKE 7:36-50 MSG

If a prostitute can display humility and love, why can’t we?  I ask the question because we as Christians consider the prostitute to be less of a person than we are.  Yet when it comes to showing humility and love to our brothers and sisters we display an attitude of superiority.  This was true when Jesus was ministering and it is true today.

In this lesson, we will show you what happens when a prostitute came into Jesus present and kneels at Jesus feet where he was dinning with a room full of religious leaders.  Jesus often dines with tax collectors and others whom the religious elite thought to be sinners.  On this occasion, Jesus was dinning with the Pharisee and was a guest at the home of Simon.

Now just image for a moment when you have prepared this great dinner party for some of your best and most influential friends and invited a very important leader of the community to be your special guest.  In walks this prostitute whom your entire guest knows is a prostitute except your special guest, and she goes and sits at the feet of your most important guest.  How would you handle the situation?  Now pause, and think deeply on this for a moment before continuing to read the rest of the story.

This story begins when one of the Pharisees asked Jesus over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him.”

This woman understood that Jesus was very special.  Perhaps she, as a sinner, had come to Jesus with great sorrow for her sin.  Perhaps she had followed John the Baptist and had confessed her sins.  She may have been in the crowds that had been following Jesus and had come to believe in Him.  She may have come to Jesus grateful for being forgiven and so offering him the gift of her valuable perfume.  To wash Jesus feet was a sign of deep humility it was the job of a slave.

But as we can clearly see here, this religious leader had no concern for this woman’s plight, no desire to lift her from her sinful life, or to help her become a better Jewish woman.  Instead, he judged her as a sinner, shoved her aside, and presumed that any other rabbi (and especially one who was a “prophet” would do the same.

Jesus knew the Pharisee’s thoughts and so spoke up and answered them.  Simon had already made a judgment of Jesus and probably felt morally superior to him as well. But Jesus had asked for his attention, so he acted like the good host.

Now here is what happen next, Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”Oh? Tell me.”  Simon said!

Then Jesus spoke and here is what he said:  “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”

Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.”

“That’s right,” said Jesus.  Jesus then turns to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.”

Let us understand that Simon by inviting Jesus to be his special dinner guest had committed several social errors in neglecting to wash Jesus feet (a courtesy extended to guests because sandaled feet got very dirty), offer him the kiss of greeting, and anoint his head with oil.  The sinful woman, by contrast, lavished tears, expensive ointment, and kisses on Jesus.  In this story it is the grateful prostitute, and not the self-righteous religious leader, whose sins were forgiven.

Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.”

That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!”

He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

This woman’s act of humility and love show that she had been forgiven.  Jesus did not overlook her sins.  He did, in fact, know that this woman was a sinner, and he knew that her sins were many.  But the fact that her many sins were forgiven caused her to overflow with much love for Jesus.  The woman’s love did not cause her forgiveness, for no one can earn forgiveness.  Her faith in Jesus, despite her many sins, saved her.  By contrast, self-righteous people, like Simon, feel that they have no sins’ that need to be forgiven; therefore they also have little love to show for it.

Although it is God’s grace through faith that saves and not acts of love or generosity, this woman’s act demonstrated her true faith, and Jesus honored her faith by telling her in no uncertain terms, “YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.” Jesus supported this woman and treated her with dignity.  Believers need to demonstrate Jesus’ approach in dealing with people.

We leave you with our blessings of peace, love, purpose and power.  I remain your brother in Jesus Christ, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher!

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JESUS CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE THOSE LIKE ZACCHAEUS WHO ARE LOST. (Luke 19:1-10 MSG)

Zacchaeus climbed the Sycamore Tree to see Jesus (Photo by Pastor Davis)

While Jesus was in Jericho, he sought out a wealthy and corrupt tax collector by the name of Zacchaeus, which was the chief tax collector at the time of Jesus visit, and Jesus took the liberty to invite himself to this individuals home.  Zacchaeus was despised and hated by the people; he would soon become an example of a rich man coming to salvation.

Now here is how Luke tells the story of what took place.  “He said, when Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.”

Zacchaeus, like the rest of the people in Jericho, was curious to see this man whose healings and teachings had been astounding people all over the country.  Moments earlier, a blind man sitting on the side of the road had been healed.  The news had spread, and Zacchaeus wanted to get a look at Jesus.  The text reveals another detail about this wealthy tax collector: he was so short that he could not see over the people in the crowd.  Zacchaeus would not be put off.  He ran on down the road and climbed a sycamore tree.  The sycamore tree was easy to climb, it was like an oak tree with wide lateral branches.

Then Luke says, “When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.” Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, “What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?”

Zacchaeus must have been a pretty bad character, for the crowd reacted with great displeasure that Jesus would have chosen him out of everyone.  No one else in the crowd could have known that Jesus visit would change this tax collector’s life.

Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages.”

The crowd grumbled, but Jesus knew that Zacchaeus was ready for a change in his life.  After Jesus took the initiative with him, Zacchaeus took the initiative to follow wherever the path of obedience to Jesus might lead.  The rich young man had come asking and had gone away empty, unable to give up his money and possessions.  Zacchaeus, however, was able to give away his wealth in order to follow Jesus.  This is the heart attitude that Jesus was looking for.  Perceiving it in Zacchaeus, he quickly brought this man the Good News.  So eager was Zacchaeus to rid himself of the shackles of wealth that he said he would pay back four times as much of the overage that he had charged people.  His attitude was correct, and his actions showed his inner desire to obey.  Zacchaeus was setting his priorities right and he would be ready for the Kingdom.

Jesus said, “Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham!  For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.”

This tax collector was perceived as a traitor by his people, so they would not have considered him a son of Abraham in the sense of a Jew looking for the Kingdom, but also a son of Abraham in the truest sense of the word because he experienced salvation.  Salvation came to Zacchaeus, not because he did good deeds, but because he truly believed in Jesus and set aside anything that might get in the way of obeying him.  To the grumblers, detractors, and self-righteous, to those who thought they were saved simply because they were descendants of Abraham, Jesus explained his mission, he came to seek and save those like Zacchaeus who are lost.

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